WDS Set up - Help Needed! Airport Extreme with one Relay and one remote

Question

Hi Guys,
I need a bit of help. I am feeling quite stupid and frustrated. I am having some difficulty with setting up a WDS network with:
Base station: Airport extreme (current version)
Relay: Airport Express (current version)
Remote: Airport Express (current version)
I start by cold resetting the three units. The Base station is connected via Ethernet. The setup I wish to get going is a simple base - relay - remote.
I go through the utility manager and set up the base station, first as "create a wireless network" enter the ISP details etc etc. Its green light. Everything is fine. Then manually configure the Base Station. Hold down option key hit Participate in a WDS. I then select main enter + and add the Mac Id's for the intended Relay unit and Remote Unit (12 character and numeric string). At this stage I am only adding the intended Relay unit and Remote units MAC number.
Question 1: Do I need to add the base unit's MAC number itself under: WDS Remotes? even I am setting it up as Main?
I am careful to note the security settings and the the Wireless Network name to match these in the relay and remote set up. Under the Wireless tab I leave the Radio Mode: as Automatic (802.11a/n - 802.11b/g/n). I make sure the base has "allow this network to be extended" ticked. Under Radio Channel selection I edit it to reference channel 1 for 2.4Ghz (5 Ghz leave as Auto). I am careful when setting up the Relay and remote to match the Radio Channel. (Although I tired many channels as I thought maybe interference was a factor and denying the fact its obviously my set up skills as a factor).
Question 2: Do you need to disable Guest networks? I would think it does not matter as I have tired turning it off and has not made any difference.
Under Access Control I leave as default, Not enabled.
Next I hit update and and error message comes up. WDS Error as it can not find other units. Ok fine as the relay and remote are not yet set up. So I ignore and can get to the stage where the base unit is working and green light with an internet connection.
I then proceed to set up the Relay unit. Doing the same steps as above with a couple of differences being I add the MAC numbers and select the WDS Mode (Relay for Relay and Remote for Remote. I add the Main base station (i.e Airpot Extreme MAC No.) when prompted and then + the Remotes MAC number. The same for the Remote except I only need to add the base station's main no.
Question 3. Do I need to add the Relay's own MAC number to its own setup? This seems doubtful as with the base station but tired with and without for good measure with no success.
The 2.4Ghz channels are all set to 1. Radio mode set to Auto. Although even when I try to manually set them to all identical it doesn't seem t help.
Then the problems begin. The base unit is Green and the Relay and Remote say they are not connected to the internet. I assume since I have not seen a WDS Error message then the units are set up correctly or as I ignored it on the base unit. But when click unignore the error seems to work itself out.
Question 4. I need help to understand why I have no internet. The remote / relay says something about no IP number and I don't really understand what I should do? Do I need to go back the Airport Utility Manager and start messing about with the TCP/IP, DHCP, NAT ? The base is set up PPPoE and the relay and remote are set to Bridge.
It is really puzzling me why the relay and remote flash amber with error messages related to the IP number? I have tried turning off the base station and router and then on again but no joy.
Can anyone please enlighten me or give me a few ideas? I am doing something very obviously stupid and I guess the fix is something simple that I have overlooked.
I did spend the time and go through the threads and search online, So I am not trying to waste anyone's time I referenced the two links to get a second opinion:
http://broadcast.oreilly.com/2009/03/taming-an-airport-express-wds.html
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/settingup_an_airport_relay_with_airportexpress/
Any help much appreciated!

Answer 1

Versed wrote:
I need a bit of help.
Welcome to Apple's discussion groups.
My WDS experience is limited to "main" and "remote" configurations (no "relay"), so I'm not posting from direct experience, but below is what I think would work in your case.
I go through the utility manager and set up the base station, first as "create a wireless network" enter the ISP details etc etc. Its green light. Everything is fine. Then manually configure the Base Station. Hold down option key hit Participate in a WDS. I then select main enter + and add the Mac Id's for the intended Relay unit and Remote Unit
I don't think the "main" unit needs to be told about the "remote" unit, only about the "relay" unit.
Question 1: Do I need to add the base unit's MAC number itself under: WDS Remotes? even I am setting it up as Main?
You'd never enter the MAC address of a unit into its own configuration, if that's what you mean. I also don't think that you'd need to enter the MAC address of the main into the remote and conversely.
I am careful to note the security settings and the the Wireless Network name to match these in the relay and remote set up. Under the Wireless tab I leave the Radio Mode: as Automatic (802.11a/n - 802.11b/g/n).
Five things have to match in a WDS configuration: network name, encryption type, network password, band, and channel.
I make sure the base has "allow this network to be extended" ticked.
I don't think that's important for a WDS configuration.
Question 2: Do you need to disable Guest networks?
I wouldn't think that matters.
Under Access Control I leave as default, Not enabled.
That's fine.
WDS Error as it can not find other units. Ok fine as the relay and remote are not yet set up.
Right.
I then proceed to set up the Relay unit. Doing the same steps as above with a couple of differences being I add the MAC numbers and select the WDS Mode (Relay for Relay and Remote for Remote. I add the Main base station (i.e Airport Extreme MAC No.) when prompted and then + the Remotes MAC number. The same for the Remote except I only need to add the base station's main no.
I think this should be the MAC address of the relay station, not that of the main station.
Question 3. Do I need to add the Relay's own MAC number to its own setup?
No.